Hey there! I’m Danny, and ever since I was six, I’ve been fascinated by the ocean. I even went to college to learn all about it! But then I had to decide what kind of job I wanted. People who study the ocean can do many different things. Some help injured sea animals, others use robots to explore deep underwater places, and some test water to keep beaches clean. I chose a job where I can talk to people all over the world about how we can protect the ocean. I use social media, TV shows, and videos to share information. My job is called a science communicator, and I love it!
Now, let’s talk about a special holiday called Labor Day. My friend Lily asked about it, so let’s dive in! Labor Day is a holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday of September. It’s all about celebrating workers and the different jobs people do. The word “labor” means “work,” so Labor Day is like a “work day” celebration.
How many jobs can you think of? There are so many! At school, there are music teachers, custodians, and lunchroom staff. You might see crossing guards and classroom teachers every day, but there are also people like school nurses and IT specialists who help behind the scenes. Schools need lots of different jobs to run smoothly!
Back in the 1880s, over 140 years ago, people wanted to show appreciation for all the jobs that keep cities running. They didn’t have social media or TV to spread the word, so they organized parades. Parades are big events where people march down the street, play music, and carry colorful floats. These parades were a great way to get attention and show off the many jobs people do.
In these parades, workers carried signs that showed their jobs, like shipbuilders and typographers. Some even carried a giant loaf of bread to show they were bakers! These parades helped people remember how important every job is. This idea led to the creation of Labor Day, which became an official holiday in 1894.
Parades weren’t just for fun. Workers also used them to talk about important issues, like how long a workday should be. They wanted workdays to be short enough to have time for rest and family. By highlighting these issues, they helped create new laws to make jobs safer and fairer. This is something we still work on today!
So, Labor Day is a special day to celebrate workers and all the jobs they do. It’s a great time to thank people for their work, whether it’s at school, the grocery store, or the doctor’s office. You might not meet everyone who helps you, but their work is important. Labor Day is also a chance to learn about different jobs. Who knows? You might find a job you’d love to do someday!
That’s all for now! Thanks, Lily, for your great question. If you’re curious about something, let us know. There are so many mysteries to explore. Stay curious, and see you next time!
Job Exploration Walk: Take a walk around your neighborhood or school and observe the different jobs people are doing. Make a list of at least five jobs you see. Think about what each person might do in their job and why it is important. Share your list with a friend or family member and discuss which job you find most interesting and why.
Create Your Own Parade Float: Imagine you are part of a Labor Day parade. Choose a job you find fascinating and create a mini parade float using a shoebox or any other small box. Decorate it with drawings or craft materials to represent the job. Present your float to the class and explain why you chose that job and what makes it important.
Interview a Worker: With the help of an adult, interview someone you know about their job. Prepare a few questions, such as “What do you like most about your job?” or “What skills do you need for your job?” Share what you learned with your classmates and discuss how this job helps the community.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hey, it’s Danny! Ever since I was six years old, I knew I wanted to study the ocean, and in college, that’s exactly what I did. But then I faced a big decision: what kind of job would I do? You see, people who study the ocean have all kinds of jobs. Some take care of injured animals, some use robots to explore deep ocean trenches, and others test water samples and work with cities to keep beaches clean and healthy. I chose a job that helps me connect with people around the world on ways we can protect the ocean. I use social media, TV shows, and videos like this to share information and get even more people involved. I’m a science communicator—that’s my job, and I love it!
Someone named Lily is curious about a holiday that has something to do with jobs. Let’s give Lily a call now.
Hi, Danny!
Hi, Lily! I have a question for you: What is Labor Day?
That’s a great question! Labor Day is a U.S. holiday on the first Monday in September. If you’ve heard of it before, you might be wondering what a holiday has to do with jobs. Well, the word “labor” is another way of saying “work,” so Labor Day is like saying “work day.” It’s a holiday to celebrate workers and to think about all the different jobs people do.
Before I go on, I’m curious how many jobs you can think of. Now would be a good time to pause the video and discuss.
Okay, ready? I’m not sure how you answered, as there are so many different jobs—everything from air traffic controllers to zookeepers. For instance, think about all the jobs at a school. There might be music teachers, custodians, and lunchroom staff, just to name a few. At your school, there are probably people whose jobs help you every day, like crossing guards and classroom teachers. Other people do jobs you might not see every day. Maybe your school has a nurse who helps kids when they feel sick or an IT specialist who sets up school computers. You might never get to meet these people, but their work helps you too. A school depends on lots of jobs—ones you see and ones you don’t.
Now, back in the 1880s, more than 140 years ago, some people wanted to get folks thinking about the many jobs that cities depend on and show appreciation and respect for workers. They needed a way to spread the word, but there was no social media or TV yet. They didn’t have the same tools we use today to share information with lots of people. Instead, they decided to hold a public event—something big and eye-catching that would attract lots of people. So, they organized a parade.
Maybe you’ve seen a parade before, with people marching down the street, bands playing music, and brightly decorated floats. The parade in this drawing might look a bit different, but there is a band playing music, and behind that are hundreds of marching workers. See how far that parade stretches down the street? And check out all the people who came to watch! A parade was a great way to get lots of people’s attention. This parade was one of the first held by workers in New York City, and workers in other cities held parades too. The workers in parades often had signs that said their different jobs, like these shipbuilders who made metal parts for boats and these typographers who helped print newspapers.
These workers are carrying a giant loaf of bread—maybe you can guess what they do? They’re bakers! By parading down the street, workers could remind everyone about the many jobs their city depends on and celebrate the real people who do those jobs. The parades were about work, or labor. Remember that word? Labor parades led to the creation of Labor Day, which became an official U.S. holiday in 1894.
But labor parades weren’t just for celebrating. Workers also marched with signs like this one that says “8 hours to constitute a day’s work.” Basically, it means that a workday should be short enough to leave time for other activities, like rest and being with friends and family. Long workdays were one of the issues workers highlighted at parades, and by calling attention to problems, they helped create new laws over the years that made jobs safer and more fair—something we’re still working on today.
So, in summary, Labor Day is a U.S. holiday in September that celebrates workers and all kinds of jobs. It was inspired by labor parades, which were organized to show appreciation for the people behind the many jobs that cities depend on and to speak out about problems that workers face. Labor Day is a great day to thank someone for the work they do. Every place you go—whether it’s school, the grocery store, or the doctor’s office—there are people whose jobs help you. You might not meet the person behind each job, but their work is a part of your life. Labor Day is also a great opportunity to learn more about people’s jobs. Who knows? You might discover jobs that you’d like to do someday!
That’s all for this week’s question. Thanks, Lily, for asking it! We want to know what you’re curious about. It’s time to cast your vote! We picked three questions that we’re thinking about answering. When this video is done playing, click on the one you’re most excited to see answered. Your vote will help us plan for future mini-lessons. There are mysteries all around us. Stay curious, and see you next week!
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This version maintains the original message while removing any informal language or potential distractions.
